ERP Implementation Issues


Does Seradex have a proven ERP Implementation Approach?

Seradex has developed a structured seven-step implementation plan based on many years experience. This approach is our Rapid Implementation Methodology or RIM. We have all heard and read about horror stories of cost overruns and cancelled ERP projects. Project management and control is critical to the success of the project.

Seradex ERP offers the functionality, technology platform and implementation expertise to help you realize the full benefits of an ERP solution.

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Does Seradex use contractors and third parties for ERP implementation?

It's not pretty out there. Companies have spent fortunes on ERP software and implementation only to find that business performance has not improved at all.

Unlike most other ERP firms in the market Seradex uses employees exclusively for implementation. Most ERP firms use sub contractors, dealers, resellers or consulting firms for implementation. The problems with this approach include:
• Contractors leave your project mid stream for a job or more profitable opportunity - this leads to time and cost overruns
• Contractors implement multiple ERP systems and are frequently learning on the job at your expense
• The most popular source of contractors is you the employer - employees are recruited for higher paying consulting
• Because Seradex is one organization - "you have one neck to wring" for non performance

Seradex does extensive training in project management and software functionality for all its implementation staff and we believe this is a significant factor in our implementation successes. This allows us to completely control the quality of the implementation directly and make sure you get up and live quickly.

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Should you implement ERP with the BIG BANG or phased approach?

"Big Bang" means you stop using your existing system one day and your entire company goes live on the new system the next day. The alternate approach is a phased, module by module, implementation - (I call this approach the "Rolling Thunder". The problem with Rolling Thunder approach is that in an integrated system each module relies on information from other modules.

I strongly recommend big bang for the main modules (sales orders, production and purchasing). Other modules like human resources, document management, maintenance and even financials can be implemented later. The critical step in successfully implementing the Big Bang is proper testing.

I recommend a conference room pilot approach where computer work stations are set up in a room to represent each of the major tasks of customer service /order entry, planning, goods-in, stores and finance. At least 50 orders should be completely processed through all the modules and carefully reviewed. No company can afford to justify a complete parallel run and you will spend more time trying to reconcile the two systems including data entry errors, different reports, cut off dates and so on.

Provided the conference room pilots above have been run properly at all three stages, project team, management and users, the least risk strategy is to cut-over with a clean break from the old methods (Big Bang). The conference room pilot increases everyone's confidence in the cut-over and highlights any short comings that need to be corrected. Seradex ERP offers the functionality, technology platform and implementation expertise to help you realize the full benefits of an ERP solution.

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Can you transfer historical data from my current ERP system into Seradex?

Seradex has a complete set of data transfer utilities. Item master, bills of material, inventory as well as Sales Orders, Invoices, Purchase Orders can all be transferred. A major factor in changing systems is losing access to all the sales and transaction history.

If you are changing item numbering systems or bill of material structures we can also accommodate this. Your Seradex project manager can discuss these options in more detail. Depending on the quality of the data in your old system and the amount of data sometimes the most effective solution is to have data entry personnel punch in the data directly.

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We may need technical support for our new ERP system. What is your support policy?

Good question. We have annual maintenance packages that include various technical support options. We also can provide technical support on a per incident basis.

Most support problems can be handled easily over the phone, but should it be necessary, we can use software to log in directly to your system and take care of any problems you may be having. The bottom line is that you can rely on us to provide you whatever level of support you may need.

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What Role does Senior Management Play in an ERP Project?

Companies that implement ERP software continue to make the same mistakes that were made 10 years ago. They fail to monetize the intended business benefits while spending more than planned. At the heart of the matter is a chronic lack of knowledge and commitment on the part of senior management.

Senior management continue to view an ERP implementation as an IT project rather than the company wide business endeavor that it is.

Senior management must become more engaged in ERP implementation: While training for project teams and end users is a staple of all ERP projects, too little attention is paid by senior executives after the purchase decision is made. While senior management commitment to an ERP endeavor must include both sufficient funding and executive sponsorship, it is imperative that such sponsorship be more enlightened about ERP issues before the implementation commences to ensure that paramount business issues do not become lost in the fog of an IT shuffle.

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We have limited IT resources - will we need to hire a full time IT person?

The Seradex ERP system is ideal for organizations with limited IT resources. We have many features to reduce system administration efforts including AutoUpdate, AutoBackup and Auto Database Maintenance. In addition Seradex offers remote administration where we can provide support from our offices. Once the system is set-up and installed, it the only routine maintenance and system administration required is adding new users or changing user security profiles.

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Is your ERP software scalable? Can we add more users later?

Your Seradex Administrator can create new users, and there is no limit to the number of users. The number of users who can log-on to the system at any one time is however, limited by the number of concurrent user licenses you have purchased. Additional user licenses can be purchased at any time.

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What are the training issues in implementing a new ERP system.

hen considering training for your new ERP system you can be faced with many issues and questions. Here are a few questions for you to consider:

1. Is the training curriculum designed for the new organizational roles and tasks?
Dozens of new tasks will be defined during the ERP implementation process. These tasks will be assigned to redesigned roles within the organization. Training should be designed to develop new skills for people who will be taking on new roles and tasks.

2. Are the training materials tailored to different learning styles?
Each organization acquires ways of learning that are unique to its operations and culture. Training standards should be designed up front that optimize learning within your organization. These standards form the foundation for how training will be developed, delivered and perceived by the end-users.

3. Is the training customized for your specific business?
Seradex provides "off-the-shelf" ERP training materials, and in general, they offer an excellent overview of the Seradex system and its modules. However, they are not designed to address your unique business needs and processes. Seradex can work with your implementation team to develop effective, successful customized training for your organization: customization that is ultimately crucial for your employees' and organization's productivity.

4. Are the learning materials developed by experienced instructional designers?
Adult have different learning styles, and Seradex offers you skilled and experienced adult learning experts to develop training that will address the learning styles within your organization. Studies have shown that this approach is significantly more effective than using technical experts and consultants to develop end user training.

5. Is delivery of end-user training planned for a date close to the 'go-live' period?
Seradex delivers training on a Just-In-Time basis to minimize the time span between training and application of training to daily tasks. Other ERP companies can schedule end-user training on an ad-hoc basis reducing the effectivity and increasing training costs.

7. How is end-user training delivered?
Seradex offers a mix of delivery methods including: Train the Trainer, Classroom, Self Study manuals and Computer Based Training as well as Web based training. Web based interactive delivery is becoming a highly cost effective method to be added to the delivery mix.

8. What about end-user support after the Go-Live?
Considerable knowledge transfer happens after you Go Live. We recommend you schedule follow-up reinforcement aids and communication.

9. How do we assess end-user training levels?
Prior to the Go Live a conference room pilot is conducted to assess end user effectiveness and readiness to go live.
Formal assessments can also be conducted after the Go Live to addresses knowledge transfer and skills retention.

10. How is on going training addressed?
Training should continue beyond the Go Live to accommodate employee turnover, system changes and more sophisticated use of the new system.

11. What approach and tools will you use to make sure successful knowledge transfer between Seradex and our personnel occurs?
An approach that emphasizes instructional design will translate knowledge from the system and project experts to your personnel. Proper design of the training project identify requirements that exist after system implementation.

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ERP - What happens after the Go Live?

Treat the day your ERP project goes live as the start of the next phase of your journey. An ERP implementation represents much more than simply a project. Typically, your upfront investment is large, but the life expectancy of the application should lie somewhere between 10 years and 20 years. You've already established your team and given it several months to bring the project to its launch date. So why would you disband the team a month after the project goes live?

By retaining a subset of your installation team, its members can enhance the ERP application, handle bottlenecks, tweak and improve the system, look for continual productivity gains — and learn. This subset should be made up of both business and technical personnel.

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